Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Aston Villa and
Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on Sunday October 20, 2013.

Reworking their old Gareth Bale chant, Tottenham Hotspur supporters sang of Andros Townsend that “he was born to play for Spurs” although they would have run out of breath if they had added the significant secondary lyric of “via loan spells at Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient, MK Dons, Ipswich Town, Watford, Millwall, Leeds United, Birmingham City and QPR’’.

But it was these three years on the road, touring the country in “have boots will travel” style, going where Spurs could place him to give him first-team experience that has so shaped the man of the moment, and the man of the match at Villa Park yesterday. Other influences served to accelerate the 22-year-old’s development, including a determination to generate the right headlines after his ban for gambling. Injuries to Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott opened up opportunities for club and country respectively. But those loan months sharpened this desire to seize his chance when it came at Spurs.

He scored his first Premier League goal here, and its lucky nature, a cross curling in, simply confirmed Townsend’s current Midas touch. His last 10 days have seen a goal on his international debut, helping England to the World Cup finals on his second appearance, widespread praise for his sensible comments over the Roy Hodgson “space monkey” row, a new four-year contract and then this display in which he tormented Aston Villa's left-back Antonio Luna.

For a footballer whose party-piece is Stand By Me, Townsend does everything but stand. His pace constantly carried him away from Luna, particularly in the second half. Villa tried to double-up on him with Gabby Agbonlahor helping Luna, occasionally trebling up with the ubiquitous Fabian Delph assisting, but still Townsend managed to escape.

As ever with any youngster breaking on to the scene, even one who has arrived in the fast lane via B roads, there will inevitably be a concern over whether he will get distracted by the flattering headlines and his form will dip. Fortunately for club and country, and for the player’s long-term development, Townsend has good people around him, including his father Troy. Spurs head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, also keeps a beady, caring eye over a professional who sounds pretty level-headed anyway.

This was a good afternoon for Villas-Boas, who was quietly delighted to see the £26million Roberto Soldado score his first Premier League goal for Tottenham from open play as Spurs rose to fifth, three points behind leaders Arsenal.

Lennon also returned from his foot injury. Spurs’ attacking options will inevitably be praised but they have hardly been prolific, scoring only eight times in 720 minutes. But they have conceded only five goals, tribute to a well-drilled defence and the reflexes of Hugo Lloris. A settled central unit of Michael Dawson and Jan Vertonghen has helped, although the Belgian was pushed to left-back here to accommodate Vlad Chiriches. The Romanian international may get caught out if pressed quickly but he can clearly enhance Spurs’ forward momentum with his measured distribution from the back.

Spurs have now scored 10 goals in their last three visits to Villa Park. It could have been more but for their keeper Brad Guzan. Delph, tireless in his closing down and running upfield with the ball, certainly did not deserve to end amongst the defeated. Villa’s hopes seemed limited by the absence for an hour of the talismanic Christian Benteke. Libor Kozak lacks the pace and touch to be an adequate understudy.

He did little in a largely disappointing first half. Villa fans sighed at the sight of Phil Dowd, the referee remembered darkly for failing to dismiss Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic for a clear foul on Agbonlahor, who was through on goal in the 2010 Carling Cup final.

There was little to entertain early on. Agbonlahor sent a shot over Lloris’ crossbar. Sandro, making a strong return from injury, had a shot held by Guzan. In keeping with the slightly desultory passage of play, Paul Lambert hit Villas-Boas when attempting to direct a loose ball to Kyle Walker, who was waiting to take a throw-in. Lambert raised a hand in apology. Westwood then curled in a free-kick which Lloris hurriedly pushed away.

Just after the half-hour, Townsend scored. Clearly intending to pick out Lewis Holtby or Soldado, Townsend curled the ball in. Holtby ducked underneath it, the sliding Soldado failed to make it contact, and it continued on past Guzan.

Spurs fans celebrated wildly. Sadly, one reacted foolishly, throwing a smoke-bomb which hit the assistant referee David Bryan on the back.

The experienced Midlands official, who is not the type to make a fuss, ignored it, and carried on running the line but it was an alarming moment. Footage of the incident was quickly posted on Twitter. The police did not take long to pluck two individuals from the away section. The FA swiftly launched an investigation into the “unacceptable” incident.

As the police were busy in the Doug Ellis Stand, Townsend almost added a second before the break but Guzan dropped to his right to save. Townsend was even livelier in the second half, making Luna’s life even more of a misery. Lambert sent on Benteke after the hour, and the Belgian briefly raised Villa hopes. Twice he had chances to score. Twice he headed over, first from a Leandro Bacuna cross and then an Ashley Westwood corner.

Seizing back the initiative, Villas-Boas sent on Lennon for Gylfi Sigurdsson. With 21 minutes remaining, Spurs scored an elegant second started and finished by Soldado. The Spaniard won the ball, Holtby took over and cut the ball back with his left foot to Paulinho. The Brazilian played it first time into the box for Soldado to control it with his left and then finish powerfully with his right past Guzan. That was it, barring some more high-speed runs from Townsend.